CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Motor vehicles are known essentially comprising a body defining a passenger compartment,
a pair of front doors hinged relative to the body and a roof delimiting the passenger
compartment at the top.
[0004] The passenger compartment defines at least one pair of seats for a driver and a passenger.
[0005] Each front door is, in a known manner, movable between:
- a closed position, in which it forbids access to and exit from the passenger compartment
and laterally delimits it at a normal travel direction of the motor vehicle; and
- an open position, in which it allows access to and exit from the passenger compartment.
[0006] Motor vehicles further comprise, in a known manner, an air conditioning system, also
known as HVAC system, configured to heat, ventilate and air-condition the air inside
the passenger compartment and thus increase the comfort of the occupants of the passenger
compartment.
[0007] Very briefly, the air conditioning system comprises, in a known manner:
- a plurality of inlet ducts designed to convey air collected from the outside of the
passenger compartment;
- a treatment unit fed by the inlet ducts with the air to be treated and configured
to treat the air so as to bring it to the desired humidity and temperature values;
and
- a plurality of outlet ducts designed to make the air treated by the treatment unit
available to a plurality of vents open towards the inside of the passenger compartment.
[0008] In the solution illustrated in patent application
EP-A-3581411 by the same Applicant, the treatment unit is arranged behind the driver's seat.
[0009] The outlet ducts extend inside the roof of the motor vehicle along a longitudinal
median axis of the motor vehicle parallel to the travel direction thereof, and end
in the vents also arranged in the area of the roof so as to be close to the passenger
and the driver.
[0010] Although effective, the previously illustrated known solutions are susceptible of
improvements, for example with regard to the reduction in the constraints imposed
on the design of the motor vehicle by the need to accommodate the air conditioning
system and/or with regard to the improvement of the thermal comfort of the occupants
of the motor vehicle.
SUMMARY
[0011] The object of the present invention is to manufacture a motor vehicle, which allows
satisfying at least one of the aforementioned needs in a simple and cost-effective
manner.
[0012] The aforementioned object is achieved by the present invention, as it relates to
a motor vehicle according to what defined in claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In order to better understand the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described
in the following, by way of mere non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a motor vehicle manufactured
according to the teachings of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the motor vehicle with a
closed door, on a greatly enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the motor vehicle with the
door open, on a greatly enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle of Figures from 1 to 3 with the
door closed, on a greatly enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity;
- Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a top view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of second details
of the motor vehicle of Figures from 1 to 4 with the door open and closed, respectively;
and
- Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of some details of a second embodiment of the
motor vehicle shown only for illustrative purposes and with parts removed for clarity.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0014] With reference to Figure 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a motor vehicle.
[0015] More specifically, the motor vehicle 1 comprises:
- a body 2 delimiting a passenger compartment 3; and
- a pair of doors 4 hinged to the body 2 and a roof 5.
[0016] The body 2 further comprises a pair of sides 6 adjacent respective doors 4.
[0017] It is further possible to define:
- a longitudinal axis X integral with the motor vehicle 1, arranged, in use, horizontal
and parallel to a normal travel direction of the motor vehicle 1;
- a transverse axis Y integral with the motor vehicle 1, arranged, in use, horizontal
and orthogonal to the axis X; and
- an axis Z integral with the motor vehicle 1 arranged, in use, vertical and orthogonal
to the axes X, Y.
[0018] It is further specified that in the following of the present description, expressions
such as "above", "at the top", "under", "at the bottom", "in front of", "behind" and
the like are utilized with reference to a normal travel condition of the motor vehicle
1 in which the latter travels parallel to the axis X.
[0019] The motor vehicle 1 further comprises a seat 8.
[0020] The seat 8 is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 limitedly to a backrest 9 and a sitting
surface 25.
[0021] Each door 4 is movable between:
- a closed position, in which it cooperates with the body 2 and the roof 5 in delimiting
the passenger compartment 3, defines a prolongation of the relative side 6 and forbids
access to/exit from the passenger compartment 3 (Figure 2); and
- an open position, in which it is spaced apart from the relative side 6 and allows
access to and exit from the passenger compartment 3 (Figure 3).
[0022] Each side 6 comprises (Figures 2 and 3) a frame 7 delimiting an opening 24 engaged
by the relative door 4 when arranged in the closed position and which allows access
to/exit from the passenger compartment 3 when the door 4 is in the open position.
[0023] With reference to Figure 3, the frame 7 of each side 6 is delimited by:
- a pair of uprights 13, 14, respectively front and rear, spaced apart from each other
along the axis X, and having a mainly vertical development; and
- a door sill 10 mainly having a horizontal development and joined, in the area of its
opposite longitudinal ends 11, 12, to respective uprights 13, 14.
[0024] In a known manner, the door 4 is hinged around the upright 13 parallel to the axis
Z and rotates around the upright 13 for moving between the open position (Figure 3)
in which it is rotated relative to the upright 14 and the closed position (Figure
2) in which it strikes against the upright 14.
[0025] The upright 14 further comprises a wall 27 arranged facing the door 4 when the latter
is arranged in the closed position.
[0026] The door 4 further comprises:
- an outer wall 21 relative to the passenger compartment 3;
- a panel 23 defining an inner wall of the door 4 relative to the passenger compartment
3 opposite the outer wall 21, and having a mainly parallel development facing the
outer wall 21; and
- a compartment 22 delimited between the aforementioned outer wall 21, panel 23 and
uprights 13, 14.
[0027] Each door sill 10 delimits the respective frame 7 at the bottom and is arranged under
the relative door 4 when the latter is in the corresponding closed position.
[0028] The motor vehicle 1 further comprises an air conditioning system 15, also known as
HVAC system, configured to heat, ventilate and air-condition the air inside the passenger
compartment 3 and thereby increase the comfort of the occupants of the passenger compartment
3.
[0029] Very briefly, the air conditioning system 15 comprises (Figure 4):
- a plurality of inlet ducts 16, 17 designed to convey air collected from the outside
of the passenger compartment 3;
- a treatment unit 18 fed by the inlet ducts 16, 17 with the air to be treated and configured
to treat the air so as to bring it to the desired humidity and temperature values;
and
- a pair of outlet ducts 19 designed to make the air treated by the treatment unit 18
available to a plurality of vents 20 open towards the inside of the passenger compartment
3.
[0030] In the illustrated case, the inlet duct 16 is integrated in the roof 5 and extends
longitudinal to the axis X in a median position between the sides 6.
[0031] The inlet ducts 17 extend symmetrically relative to the axis X and converge towards
the treatment unit 18.
[0032] The treatment unit 18 is arranged behind the seat 8.
[0033] The outlet ducts 19 extend symmetrical to the axis X and diverge proceeding from
the treatment unit 18 towards the relative vents 20.
[0034] Advantageously, the outlet ducts 19 at least partly extend inside the respective
doors 4.
[0035] In the following of the present description reference will be made to one single
outlet duct 19 and to the relative door 4 and side 6, being the outlet ducts 19, the
doors 4 and the sides 6 identical to one another.
[0036] More specifically, the outlet duct 19 comprises, proceeding from the treatment unit
18 towards the vent 20:
- an end portion 30 arranged behind the door 4 arranged in the closed position;
- a main portion 31 accommodated inside the door 4, in particular in the compartment
22; and
- an end portion 32 arranged in front of the door 4 arranged in the closed position.
[0037] More specifically, the end portion 30 comprises an outlet 36 defined by the upright
14, opposite the treatment unit 18 and open towards the opening 24.
[0038] The main portion 31 comprises, in turn:
- an inlet 37; and
- an outlet 38 opposite the inlet 37.
[0039] As more specifically described in the following of the present description, the main
portion 31 is movable relative to the panel 23.
[0040] The end portion 32 comprises an inlet 39 defined by the upright 13, open towards
the opening 24 and opposite the vent 20.
[0041] When the door 4 is in the closed position, the outlet 36 of the end portion 30 is
in fluid-tight fluid communication with the inlet 37 of the main portion 31, and the
outlet 38 of the main portion 31 is in fluid-tight fluid communication with the inlet
39 of the end portion 32, so as to arrange the vent 20 in fluid communication with
the treatment unit 18.
[0042] In other words, the outlet duct 19 does not have any interruptions.
[0043] When the door 4 is in the open position, the outlet 36 of the end portion 30 is away
from the inlet 37 of the main portion 31, and the outlet 38 of the main portion 31
is away from the inlet 39 of the end portion 32, so as to fluidly insulate the vent
20 from the treatment unit 18.
[0044] Preferably, when the door 4 is in the open position, the operation of the treatment
unit 18 is stopped so as to prevent the treated air from coming out of the passenger
compartment by means of the outlet 36 of the end portion 30.
[0045] Alternatively, when the door 4 is in the open position, the outlet 36 of the end
portion 30 is fluid-tight covered by a shutter.
[0046] The main portion 31 of the outlet duct 19 and the panel 23 are movable integral with
each other relative to the side 6, during the movement of the door 4 between the open
and closed positions.
[0047] The main portion 31 of the outlet duct 19 is further mounted in a movable manner
relative to the panel 23.
[0048] The motor vehicle 1 further comprises an interface 50 carried by the door 4.
[0049] The interface 50 is designed to allow the moving away of the main portion 31 of the
outlet duct 19 from the panel 23 when the door 4 is moved away from the upright 13
for being moved in the open position, so as to arrange in a staggered position with
respect to each other the outlet 36 of the end portion 30 and the inlet 37 of the
main portion 31 (Figure 5).
[0050] The interface 50 is further designed to allow the approaching of the main portion
31 of the outlet duct 19 to the panel 23 and to the side 6 when the door 4 is arranged
in the closed position, so as to arrange in fluid-tight fluid communication the outlet
36 of the end portion 30 and the inlet 37 (Figure 6).
[0051] More specifically, the interface 50 comprises, with reference to Figures 5 and 6,
in turn:
- a gear wheel 65 mounted in a rotatable manner relative to the panel 23 around an axis
H parallel to the axis Z;
- an arm 55 slidable relative to the outlet duct 19 and the panel 23 along an axis J
orthogonal to the axis H, and provided with a rack 56 meshing with a toothed segment
66 of the gear wheel 65; and
- an arm 60 fixed to the main portion 31 and provided with a rack 61 meshing with a
toothed segment 67 distinct from the toothed segment 66 of the gear wheel 65.
[0052] It is important to highlight that the segments 66, 67 are instantly distinct from
each other, i.e. indicate the toothed segments of the gear wheel 65 which, in a given
instant, mesh with the racks 56, 61, respectively.
[0053] The interface 50 further comprises a torsion spring 70 interposed between the panel
23 and the gear wheel 65.
[0054] The gear wheel 65 and the rack 61 are accommodated in the compartment 22.
[0055] The axis J is parallel to the axis Y and thus orthogonal to the axis Z.
[0056] The arm 55 further comprises an end portion 57 opposite the rack 56.
[0057] The end portion 57 passes through with clearance a through opening 26 of the panel
23. In particular, the opening 26 is through-passing parallel to the axis J.
[0058] When the door 4 is in the closed position, the end portion 57 is in contact with
the side 6.
[0059] The opening 26 faces, parallel to the axis J, the wall 27 of the side 6.
[0060] The segment 66 and the rack 56 are configured such that the rotation of the gear
wheel 65 in a first (second) sense determines the relative moving away (approaching)
between the axis H from the end portion 57 and the rack 56.
[0061] The spring 70 is elastically preloaded so as to exert an elastic torque in the first
sense, clockwise in the case illustrated in Figure 6.
[0062] When the door 4 is in the closed position, the spring 70 is compressed.
[0063] The rack 61 comprises, in turn, a pair of ends 62, 63 opposite each other and arranged
on the side of respective uprights 13, 14.
[0064] The rack 61 further extends along an axis K of its own orthogonal to the axes I,
J.
[0065] The segment 67 and the rack 56 are configured such that the rotation of the gear
wheel in the first (second) sense determines the relative moving away (approaching)
between the end 63 of the rack 56 and the axis H of the gear wheel 65.
[0066] The arm 60 and thus the main portion 31 are movable relative to the panel 23, following
the meshing of the gear wheel 65 with the rack 61 between:
- a first position (illustrated in Figure 7) assumed when the door 4 is closed and in
which the end 62 of the rack 60 is at a first distance from the axis H of the gear
wheel 65 parallel to the axis K; and
- a second position (illustrated in Figure 6) assumed when the door 4 is open and in
which the end 62 of the rack is at a second distance greater than the first distance
from the axis H of the gear wheel 65 parallel to the axis K.
[0067] Consequently, when the gear wheel 65 rotates in the first sense around the axis H
and the end portion 57 strikes against the wall 27 of the side 6, the panel 23 moves
away from the wall 27 integral with the gear wheel 65 rotating around the axis Z in
the first sense and the main portion 31 moves towards the first position.
[0068] On the contrary, when the gear wheel 65 rotates in the second sense around the axis
H and the end portion 57 strikes against the wall 27 of the side 6, the panel 23 approaches
the wall 27 integral with the gear wheel 65 rotating around the axis Z in the second
sense and the main portion 31 moves towards the second position.
[0069] The vent 20 is arranged at the side of the seat 8, in the illustrated case.
[0070] In particular, the seat 8 is interposed along the axis Y between the vents 20.
[0071] The operation of the motor vehicle 1 is described starting from a condition illustrated
in Figures 4 and 5 and 7, wherein the door 4 is closed and the air conditioning system
15 is activated.
[0072] In such condition, the air to be treated is conveyed from the outside of the passenger
compartment towards the treatment unit 18 by means of the inlet ducts 16, 17.
[0073] The treatment unit 18 treats such air and makes it available to the outlet ducts
19.
[0074] The operation of the motor vehicle 1 is illustrated in the following of the present
description with reference to only one outlet duct 19 and to the relative door 4 and
side 6, being the outlet ducts 19 identical to one another.
[0075] As is illustrated in Figures 3 and 6, in such condition, the outlet 36 of the end
portion 30 is in fluid-tight fluid communication with the inlet 37 of the main portion
31. Similarly, the outlet 38 of the main portion 31 is in fluid-tight fluid communication
with the inlet 39 of the end portion 32.
[0076] In such condition, the spring 70 is compressed and exerts an elastic torque in the
first sense on the gear wheel 65 and the end portion 57 strikes against the wall 27
of the side 6. The arm 60 is in the first position in which the end 62 of the rack
61 is at the first distance from the panel 23.
[0077] The spring 70 is elastically deformed due to the fact that the door 4 is closed.
[0078] If it is desired to arrange the door 4 in the open position, the operation of the
treatment unit 18 is stopped. Alternatively, the outlet 36 is fluid-tight covered
by means of a shutter.
[0079] The door 4 is arranged in the open position, rotating the door 4 from the upright
14 parallel to the axis Z.
[0080] Such rotation determines the integral rotation of the panel 23 and of the main portion
31 of the outlet duct 19 relative to the wall 27 of the side 6.
[0081] Simultaneously, the spring 70 returns in the non-deformed position, exerting an elastic
torque on the gear wheel 65 in the first sense around the axis H. Owing to the fact
that the end portion 57 strikes against the wall 27, such elastic torque determines
the rotation of the gear wheel 65 in the first sense and the translation of the gear
wheel 65 relative to the rack 56 parallel to the axis J and on the side opposite the
wall 27.
[0082] Simultaneously, thanks to the meshing between segment 67 and rack 61, the arm 60
and the main portion 31 of the outlet duct 19 move in the position in Figure 6 in
which the end 62 of the rack 61 is at the second distance greater than the first distance
from the panel 23.
[0083] Consequently, the arm 60 and the main portion 31 further rotate around the axis Z
further moving away from the upright 14 and the wall 27 of the side 6, up to arranging
the outlet 36 of the end portion 30 spaced apart from the inlet 37 of the main portion
31.
[0084] At this point, the further manual moving away of the door 4 from the side 6 determines
the integral motion of the assembly formed by the panel 23, the main portion 31 of
the outlet duct 19 and the interface 50.
[0085] When the door 4 is manually brought back into the closed position, initially the
end portion 57 is led to strike against the side 27 and then the gear wheel 65 rotates
around the axis H in the second sense.
[0086] The rotation of the gear wheel 65 in the second sense determines:
- the translation along the axis J of the gear wheel 65 relative to the rack 56 and
towards the side 27;
- the elastic compression of the spring 70; and
- thanks to the meshing between toothed segment 67 and rack 61, the return of the arm
60 again in the first position in which the end 62 is at the first distance from the
axis H.
[0087] The outlet 36 of the end portion 30 is again further in fluid-tight fluid communication
with the inlet 37 of the main portion 31. Thanks to the fact that the door 4 is closed,
also the outlet 38 of the main portion 31 is in fluid-tight fluid communication with
the inlet 39 of the end portion 32.
[0088] It is thus possible to let treated air again inside the passenger compartment 3 by
means of the vent 20.
[0089] With reference to Figures 8 and 9, a motor vehicle 1' is illustrated according to
a further embodiment not belonging to the invention.
[0090] The motor vehicle 1' is similar to the motor vehicle 1 and it will be described in
the following only with regard to what differs from the latter; identical or equivalent
parts of the motor vehicles 1, 1' will be indicated, where possible, by the same reference
numerals.
[0091] More specifically, the outlet ducts 19' differ from the outlet ducts 19 due to the
fact that the main portions 31' are accommodated inside door sills 10' of respective
doors 4.
[0092] In particular, the door sills 10' differ from the door sill 10 due to the fact that
they each comprise a pair of section bars 80', 81' coupled to each other and defining
between each other a compartment 82' accommodating the main portion 31' of the respective
outlet duct 19'.
[0093] Similarly, the uprights 13', 14' differ from the respective uprights 13, 14 due to
the fact that they each comprise a pair of section bars 83', 84' coupled to each other
and defining between each other a respective compartment 85'.
[0094] In particular, the compartment 85' of each upright 13' accommodates the outlet 36
of the end portion 30 and the inlet 37 of the main portion 30 of the relative outlet
duct 19' .
[0095] The compartment 85' of each upright 14' accommodates the main portion 31' and defines
the vent 20' of the relative outlet duct 19' .
[0096] The outlet ducts 19' finally differ from the outlet ducts 19 due to the fact that
they do not comprise the interfaces 50.
[0097] Based on an examination of the motor vehicle 1 manufactured according to the present
invention, the advantages that it allows obtaining are evident.
[0098] In particular, the outlet duct 19 extends inside the door 4.
[0099] In such manner, the roof 5 is no longer intended to accommodate the outlet ducts
19 and can thus be configured with greater flexibility and with less constraints relative
to the solutions of known type and described in the introductory part of the present
description.
[0100] The vents 20 can further be easily arranged in the proximity of the occupants of
the passenger compartment 3 without requiring particularly and tortuous ducts which
would generate unavoidable charge losses in the treated air, thereby increasing the
thermal comfort perceived by the occupants of the motor vehicle.
[0101] The interface 50 allows:
- arranging the outlet 36 of the end portion 30 in fluid-tight fluid communication with
the inlet 37 of the main portion 31, when the door 4 is in the closed position (Figure
6); and
- moving the main portion 31 relative to the end portion 30, when the door 4 is in the
open position (Figure 5).
[0102] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the motor vehicle
1 described and illustrated herein, which do not depart from the scope of protection
defined by the claims.
1. A motor vehicle (1) comprising:
- a body (2) delimiting a passenger compartment (3) and defining a side (6) with a
door sill (10);
- at least one door (4) movable, relative to said side (6), between a closed position,
in which it forbids access to said passenger compartment (3), and an open position,
in which it allows access to/exit from said passenger compartment (3); said door (4)
being arranged, in use, above said door sill (10) with reference to a normal travel
direction of said motor vehicle (1); and
- an air conditioning system (15) designed to let treated air into said passenger
compartment (3);
said air conditioning system (15) comprising, in turn:
- at least one inlet duct (16, 17) designed to convey air to be treated;
- a treatment unit (18) fluidly connected to said inlet duct (16, 17) and configured
to treat said air to be treated;
- at least one outlet duct (19) fluidly connected to said treatment unit (18) and
designed to convey said treated air; and
- at least one outlet vent (20) fluidly connected to said outlet duct (19) and open
towards the inside of said passenger compartment (3) so as to convey said treated
air into the passenger compartment (3);
said body (2) comprising a door sill (10) arranged, in a normal operating condition
of said motor vehicle (1), under said at least one door (4);
said outlet duct (19) extending, at least partly, inside said door sill (10) or inside
said door (4);
said outlet duct (19) comprising, in turn:
- a main portion (31) accommodated inside said door sill (10) or said door (4);
- a first end portion (30) interposed between said treatment unit (18) and said main
portion (31) and arranged behind said main portion (31) with reference to said normal
travel direction of said motor vehicle (1); and
- a second end portion (32) interposed between said main portion (31) and said vent
(20) and arranged in front of said main portion (31) with reference to said normal
travel direction of said motor vehicle (1);
characterized in that said body (2) comprises a pair of sides (6) each arranged adjacent to and behind
a respective said door (4) arranged in the corresponding said closed position with
reference to said normal travel direction;
said first end portion (30) of said outlet duct (19) being arranged inside said side
(6) and said main portion (31) of said outlet duct (19) being arranged inside said
door (4) in front of said first end portion (30) with reference to said normal travel
direction;
said motor vehicle (1) comprising, for each door (4):
- a panel (23) arranged on the side of the respective said side (6) and movable relative
to the respective said side (6); and
- an interface (50) designed to allow said main portion (31) to move relative to said
panel (23) following the movement of said door (4), in use, between the respective
said closed position and said open position;
said interface (50) comprising, in turn:
- a first element (55) movable relative to said main portion (31) and to said panel
(23) from and to said side (6);
- a second element (60) fixed to said main portion (31); and
- a third element (65) operatively connected to said first element (55) and said second
element (60) and fixed to said panel (23).
2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1,
characterized in that it further comprises:
- a seat (8) arranged inside said passenger compartment (3); and
- a roof (5) defined by said body (2) and delimiting said passenger compartment (3)
at the top with reference to said normal travel direction;
said treatment unit (18) being arranged behind said seat (8) with reference to said
normal travel direction;
at least one said inlet duct (16) being arranged inside said roof (5).
3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said air conditioning system (15) comprises a pair of said outlet ducts (19) arranged
inside respective said doors (4).
4. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (70) designed to at least indirectly load said first element
(55) towards a position in which it strikes against said side (6), when said door
(4) is closed.
5. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that said elastic means (70) are interposed between said panel (23) and said third element
(65), are elastically non-deformed, in use, when said door (4) is in said open position
and are elastically deformed when said door (4) is in said closed position.
6. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panel (23) comprises an opening (26), through which said first element (55)
can pass so as to allow said first element (55) to move from and to said side (6).
7. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that:
- said first element (55) comprises a first rack (56) sliding relative to said panel
(23);
- said second element (60) comprises a second rack (61) fixed to said main portion
(31); and
- said third element (65) is a gear wheel hinged to said panel (23) and meshing with
said first element (55) and said second element (60) in the area of a first toothed
segment (67) and of a second toothed segment (66), respectively, distinct from each
other.
8. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said door (4) further comprises a compartment (22) accommodating said main portion
(31) and said second element (60);
said compartment (22) being delimited by said panel (23) and being arranged on the
opposite side of said panel (23) relative to said side (6).